Actor Seff to Read from Memoir 'Supporting Player,' 6/28

On Thursday, June 28th at 6:00 pm, there will be a special free event at The Drama Book Shop (250 W. 40th St.) by Richard Seff.  He will read excerpts from his new acclaimed book, Supporting Player: My Life Upon The Wicked Stage. The free event is open to the public and there will be discussion following the presentation.   

"The entertaining and informative memoir follows Richard Seff's professional life, as actor / agent / playwright / librettist / production associate.  This is a fun-filled voyage flowing with interesting and amusing tales of professional moments in the lives of Ethel Merman, Julie Andrews, Rex Harrison, Chita Rivera, Kander and Ebb, Rosalind Russell, Bob Fosse and many others. He has acted in film or on stage with Jason Robards, Ralph Fiennes, Christine Lahti, Christopher Reeve, Richard Thomas, William Hurt, Judd Hirsch, Linda Hunt, James Woods and so many others. In his memoir, he tells of some backstage shenanigans, some of them behind closed doors. Richard has worked with many stars, and he cites examples of how stardom is achieved and handled...Discover what goes on backstage, in the wings, and behind closed doors," state press notes.

Seff became a film fan at 7 when he was taken to Radio City. But his home is the live theatre, where he has worked in mutiple capacities.  He joined Actors' Equity at 19 and has spent 60 years in the theatrical jungle. He first acted professionally in 1946 and his last engagement onstage was in 2006. He took a 22 year leave of absence from the stage, after a long run on Broadway in support of Claude Rains and on tour with Edward G. Robinson in the prize winning Darkness At Noon. During those two decades plus he represented numerous artists in musical theatre.  He left the talent agency in 1974 at the height of his career to return to the stage. In the 30 years that have followed, he's appeared in some 25 plays, in one of which (Angels Fall) he won the Carbonell Award for 'Best Supporting Actor In A Play'. He's been in 7 feature films and over 50 television series, soap operas, TV films and mini-series. He is the author of the Broadway play Paris Is Out!. The musical Shine! for which he wrote the book, won a National Music Theatre Network Award in 2001 and has been published by Samuel French, Inc. and recorded by Original Cast Records. 

Supporting Player: My Life Upon The Wicked Stage is available as a paperback, with a retail price of $24.99. It is 484 pages.  As a hardback, it can be purchased for $34.99. 

The new book can be purchased at major bookstores; and at Amazon at www.amazon.com; Barnes & Noble at www.bn.com; Borders at www.borders.com; as well as at the The Drama Book Shop (in New York City) at this link or at Xlibris (888) 795-4274 x876 or this link.

Visit www.supportingplayer.com for more information.